Health and Wellness
Introduction
The MDBA’s focus is always on what’s best for dogs and the MDBA has a strong emphasis on prioritising the health and well-being of dogs and their breeds over any other priority We achieve this by appraising ourselves with any issues within the general dog population as well as focusing on specific risks and diseases within the purebred dog population.
Our Programs
We have two programs to monitor the health and well-being of dogs.
The first is the MDBA Inside Out program, which identifies non-visible health conditions by using the following strategies; hands-on veterinary examinations, x-ray scanning, and DNA testing.
The second is the MDBA Outside In program, which identifies visible factors such as conformation, temperament, and external risks that affect a dog’s health.
Both program initiatives are based on scientific evidence which gives us the basis to develop policies and strategies that will improve the health and well-being of individual dogs and specific dog breeds. We are committed to addressing the health needs of our closest companions through; expanding our scientific research programs, maintaining health databases, utilising genetic action plans, awarding research funding, and providing educational resources dedicated to improving outcomes for all dogs.
Our Strategies
To enable the MDBA to produce science-based best-for-breed plans, we conduct specific breed health surveys and employ a range of methods for communicating and informing members about any current health issues. We base all Genetic Action Plans (GAP) on evidence and knowledge of what is happening within the MDBA purebred gene pool. We do not rely on anecdotal evidence of problems, perceptions, and prejudices within any breed.
We create individual breed strategies with appropriate health and genetic action plans to improve the health of specific breeds. The strategies we use involve identifying breed priorities, developing targeted solutions, and monitoring progress towards achieving tangible improvements.
We set high standards for ourselves and our Breeder members and pay close attention to any changing circumstances in each breed. We actively work to expand our knowledge in all canine-related matters.
We support our members if they have canine health management challenges with open and honest communication. We assist them in making long-term plans to identify and prioritise the key health issues that they face to benefit their breeds. We understand that breeding healthy dogs is the responsibility of all who love a breed and want to ensure its future.
We work with our Breeders, health providers, professionals in canine-related fields, and experts in the field and encourage veterinary professionals to participate in our canine health education and advocacy.
We identify and prioritise key health issues that members may face, such as health problems within a specific breed, health or welfare issues caused by a breed’s conformation and aspects of genetic diversity that may be causing problems (e.g. popular sires, high inbreeding coefficients, small gene pool).
We encourage public participation when identifying issues that may require further investigation. We also gather, document, and track information from owners and breeders regarding illnesses, diseases, and causes of death. This allows us to identify the current status of a breed’s health and promptly detect any emerging significant issues.
We investigate and, if necessary, initiate research into current and potential breed health and welfare issues. We develop recommendations and mandatory requirements for members to follow to ensure their dogs can lead fit and healthy lifestyles. We may introduce mandatory testing for a specific breed to determine the status of a particular disease or common illness within the MDBA gene pool or to ensure our Breeder members are implementing the correct strategies and can make informed decisions for their breeding programs.